Mirror retention system

Abstract

A vehicle side mirror ( 10 ) that includes an internal case frame ( 30 ) having a spherical concave support portion ( 38 ) and a ‘T shaped’ retention post ( 40 ). The spotter mirror ( 28 ) also includes a backing plate ( 54 ) having a dish portion ( 56 ) with a center opening ( 58 ). The backing plate ( 54 ) is positioned against the case frame ( 30 ) so that the support portion and the dish portion ( 56 ) cooperate and the retention post ( 40 ) extends through the opening ( 58 ) in the dish portion ( 56 ). The spotter mirror ( 28 ) further includes a single piece retention ring ( 66 ) having ramped cam surfaces ( 72, 74 ) and leaf springs ( 78 ). The retention ring ( 66 ) is positioned within the dish portion ( 56 ) so that the retention post ( 40 ) extends through a center slot ( 58 ) in the ring ( 66 ). The retention ring ( 66 ) is rotated so that ramped cam surfaces ( 72, 74 ) push against a back surface of the post ( 40 ). The pointing direction of the glass ( 86 ) can be manually adjusted by rotating the dish portion ( 56 ) on the support portion ( 30 ).

1. A mirror assembly comprising:
 a case frame ( 30 ) defining a concave surface ( 38 ), said case frame ( 30 ) including a retention post ( 40 ) having an elongated tip ( 42 ) in a T-shape with respect to said retention post ( 40 ); a backing plate ( 54 ) including a support surface ( 88 ) and a dish portion ( 56 ) having a center opening ( 58 ), said backing plate ( 54 ) being positioned against the case frame ( 30 ) so that the dish portion ( 56 ) cooperates with the concave surface ( 38 ) and the post ( 40 ) extends through the center opening ( 58 ) in the dish portion ( 56 ); 
 a retention ring ( 66 ), said retention ring ( 66 ) including a center slot ( 68 ) and a locking portion ( 72 ), ( 74 ), ( 76 ), said retention post ( 40 ) extending through the center slot ( 68 ) so that the tip of the post ( 40 ) is engaged with the locking portion ( 72 ), ( 74 ), ( 76 ); and 
 a mirror glass ( 86 ) mounted to the support surface ( 88 ) of the backing plate ( 54 ), wherein the backing plate and the mirror glass ( 86 ) can be manually positioned by pivoting the dish portion ( 56 ) on the concave surface ( 38 ). 
 
     
     
       2. A mirror assembly comprising:
 a case frame ( 30 ) defining a concave surface ( 38 ), said case frame ( 30 ) including a retention post ( 40 ) having an elongated tip ( 42 ); a backing plate ( 54 ) including a support surface ( 88 ) and a dish portion ( 56 ) having a center opening ( 58 ), said backing plate ( 54 ) being positioned against the case frame ( 30 ) so that the dish portion ( 56 ) cooperates with the concave surface ( 38 ) and the post ( 40 ) extends through the center opening ( 58 ) in the dish portion ( 56 ); 
 a retention ring ( 66 ), said retention ring ( 66 ) including a center slot ( 68 ) and a locking portion ( 72 ), ( 74 ), ( 76 ), said retention post ( 40 ) extending through the center slot ( 68 ) so that the tip of the post ( 40 ) is engaged with the locking portion ( 72 ), ( 74 ), ( 76 ); and 
 a mirror glass ( 86 ) mounted to the support surface ( 88 ) of the backing plate ( 54 ), wherein the backing plate and the mirror glass ( 86 ) can be manually positioned by pivoting the dish portion ( 56 ) on the concave surface ( 38 ); 
 wherein the locking portion ( 72 ), ( 74 ), ( 76 ) includes opposing cam ramps ( 72 ), ( 74 ) and a detent ( 76 ) that accepts the elongated tip ( 42 ), wherein the retention ring ( 66 ) is secured to the mirror assembly ( 10 ) by inserting the retention post ( 40 ) through the slot ( 68 ), rotating the retention ring ( 66 ) so that the tip rides along the ramps ( 72 ), ( 74 ) until the tip is positioned in the detent ( 76 ). 
 
     
     
       3. The mirror assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the retention ring ( 66 ) further includes at least one spring element ( 78 ), said at least one spring element ( 78 ) applying pressure against the dish portion ( 56 ) when the retention ring ( 66 ) is locked to the backing plate ( 54 ). 
     
     
       4. The mirror assembly according to  claim 3  wherein the at least one spring element ( 78 ) is four symmetrically disposed leaf spring elements ( 78 ) extending from a rim ( 80 ) of the retention ring ( 66 ). 
     
     
       5. The mirror assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the retention ring ( 66 ) further includes an extended neck portion ( 70 ), said retention post ( 40 ) extending through the neck portion ( 70 ). 
     
     
       6. The mirror assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the retention ring ( 66 ) is a single piece plastic member. 
     
     
       7. The mirror assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the case frame ( 30 ) includes at least one spacing member ( 46 ) having a slot ( 48 ) and the backing plate ( 54 ) includes an opening ( 60 ) and an alignment arm ( 64 ) extending across the opening ( 60 ), and wherein the alignment arm ( 64 ) is positioned within the slot ( 48 ) of the spacing member ( 46 ). 
     
     
       8. The mirror assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the concave surface ( 38 ) of the case frame ( 30 ) is defined by members ( 32 ), ( 34 ), ( 46 ), ( 50 ) extending from the case frame ( 30 ). 
     
     
       9. The mirror assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the retention ring ( 66 ) includes a plurality of openings ( 82 ) for accepting a tool to rotate the ring ( 66 ) within the dish position ( 56 ). 
     
     
       10. The mirror assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the case frame ( 30 ) is an internal support structure of a side mirror of a vehicle ( 12 ). 
     
     
       11. The mirror assembly according to  claim 10  wherein the mirror assembly ( 10 ) is a spotter mirror assembly associated with the side mirror. 
     
     
       12. A vehicle side spot mirror assembly comprising:
 an internal case frame ( 30 ) including members defining a concave surface ( 38 ), said case frame ( 30 ) further including a T-shaped retention post ( 40 ) having an elongated tip ( 42 ); 
 a backing plate ( 54 ) including a support surface ( 88 ) and a dish portion ( 56 ) having a center opening ( 58 ), said backing plate ( 54 ) being positioned against the case frame ( 30 ) so that the dish portion ( 56 ) cooperates with the concave surface ( 38 ) and the post ( 40 ) extends through the center opening ( 58 ) in the dish portion ( 56 ); 
 a single piece plastic retention ring ( 66 ), said retention ring ( 66 ) including a center slot ( 68 ), a plurality of symmetrically disposed spring elements ( 78 ), a neck portion ( 70 ) and a cam locking system ( 72 ), ( 74 ), ( 76 ) including opposing cam ramps ( 72 ), ( 74 ) and a detent ( 76 ) that accepts the elongated tip ( 42 ), said retention post ( 40 ) extending through the neck portion ( 70 ) and the center slot ( 68 ) so that the tip ( 42 ) of the post ( 40 ) is engaged with the locking system ( 72 ), ( 74 ), ( 76 ) and the spring elements ( 78 ) apply pressure against the dish portion ( 56 ), wherein the retention ring ( 66 ) is secured to the mirror assembly by inserting the retention post ( 40 ) through the center slot ( 68 ), rotating the retention ring ( 66 ) so that the tip ( 42 ) rides along the ramps ( 72 ), ( 74 ) until the tip ( 42 ) is locked in the détente ( 76 ); and 
 a mirror glass ( 86 ) mounted to the support surface ( 88 ) of the backing plate ( 54 ), wherein the backing plate ( 54 ) and the mirror glass ( 86 ) can be manually positioned by pivoting the dish portion ( 56 ) on the concave surface. 
 
     
     
       13. The mirror assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the case frame ( 30 ) includes at least one spacing member ( 46 ) having a slot ( 48 ) and the backing plate ( 54 ) includes an opening ( 60 ) having an alignment arm ( 64 ) extending across the opening ( 60 ), and wherein the alignment arm ( 64 ) is positioned within the slot ( 48 ). 
     
     
       14. The mirror assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the retention ring ( 66 ) includes a plurality of openings ( 82 ) for accepting a tool to rotate the ring ( 66 ) within the dish portion ( 56 ). 
     
     
       15. A method of directing a mirror, said method comprising:
 providing a case frame ( 30 ) including a concave surface ( 38 ) and a retention post ( 66 ) having an elongated tip ( 42 ); 
 providing a backing plate ( 54 ) including a support surface ( 88 ) and a dish portion ( 56 ) having a center opening ( 58 ); 
 positioning the backing plate ( 54 ) against the case frame ( 30 ) so that the dish portion ( 56 ) cooperates with the concave surface and the post ( 40 ) extends through the opening ( 58 ) in the dish portion ( 56 ); 
 providing a retention ring ( 66 ) including a center slot ( 68 ), at least one spring element ( 78 ) and a locking portion ( 72 ), ( 74 ), ( 76 ); 
 positioning the retention ring ( 66 ) so that the retention post ( 40 ) extends through the center slot ( 68 ); 
 rotating the retention ring ( 66 ) so that the tip ( 42 ) of the post ( 40 ) engages the locking portion ( 72 ), ( 74 ), ( 76 ) and the at least one spring element ( 78 ) applies pressure against the dish portion ( 56 ); 
 mounting a mirror glass ( 86 ) to the support surface ( 88 ) of the backing plate ( 54 ); 
 adjusting the position of the backing plate ( 54 ) and the mirror glass ( 86 ) by pivoting the dish portion ( 56 ) on the concave surface ( 38 ). 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15  wherein providing a retention ring ( 66 ) includes providing opposing cam ramps ( 72 ), ( 74 ) and a detent ( 76 ) that accepts the elongated tip ( 42 ). 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 15  wherein providing a retention ring ( 66 ) includes providing four symmetrically disposed spring elements ( 78 ) extending from a rim ( 80 ) of the retention ring ( 66 ). 
     
     
       18. The mirror assembly according to  claim 15  wherein providing a retention ring ( 66 ) includes providing a single piece plastic member. 
     
     
       19. The mirror assembly according to  claim 15  wherein providing a case frame ( 30 ) includes providing a case frame ( 30 ) having at least one spacing member ( 46 ) with a slot ( 48 ) and providing a backing plate ( 54 ) includes providing a backing plate ( 54 ) having an opening ( 60 ) with an alignment arm ( 64 ) extending across the opening ( 60 ), said method further comprising positioning the alignment arm ( 64 ) within the slot ( 48 ).